High

Windows Collaborative Translation Framework (CTFMON) Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

IdentifiersCVE-2026-45586CWE-59· Improper Link Resolution Before…

CVE-2026-45586 is a local elevation-of-privilege vulnerability in the Windows Collaborative Translation Framework (CTFMON). The flaw is caused by improper link resolution before file access ('link following'), allowing the component to follow a link to an unintended file or path during privileged file operations. Microsoft classifies the issue as CWE-59. Successful exploitation allows a locally authorized attacker with low privileges to abuse the vulnerable file-access behavior and elevate to SYSTEM. Microsoft assigned CVSS 3.1 vector CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H with a base score of 7.8 and assessed exploitation as more likely at publication time. Public reporting also associated the issue with the name GreenPlasma prior to patch release.

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ANALYST BRIEF

Impact, mitigation & remediation

What it means. What to do now. Patch path, mitigations, and the assume-compromise checklist.

Impact

What an attacker gets, and what they’ve been doing with it.

Successful exploitation results in local privilege escalation to NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM. With SYSTEM privileges, an attacker can fully compromise the affected host, including executing arbitrary code in a highly privileged context, installing malware or persistence mechanisms, tampering with system configuration and security controls, accessing sensitive data, and using the compromised system as a foothold for further post-exploitation activity such as credential theft or lateral movement.

Mitigation

If you can’t patch tonight, do this now.

No specific vendor mitigation was provided in the supplied content beyond applying the official fix. In the absence of patching, reduce exposure by limiting local untrusted code execution, restricting interactive access for low-privileged users, monitoring for suspicious link/junction/symlink abuse in privileged file-operation paths, and hardening systems to prevent attackers from obtaining an initial local foothold that could be chained with this privilege-escalation flaw.

Remediation

Patch, then assume compromise.

Apply the Microsoft security update released in the June 2026 security release for the affected Windows Collaborative Translation Framework component. Use the vendor-provided official fix from Microsoft for supported Windows versions and ensure affected systems are brought fully up to date through the relevant cumulative/security updates.

PUBLIC EXPLOITS

Exploits

No public exploits tracked yet. Mallory keeps watching.

VALID 0 / 0 TOTALView more in app

No public exploit code observed for this vulnerability.

EXPOSURE SURFACE

Affected products & vendors

Products and vendors Mallory has correlated with this vulnerability. Open in Mallory to drill down to specific CPE configurations and version ranges.

VendorProductType

Microsoft CorporationWindowsoperating_system

Vendor-confirmed product mapping. Mallory continuously reconciles this list against your asset inventory.

ACTIVITY FEED

Recent activity

16 sources tracked across advisories, community write-ups, and news. New activity surfaces here as Mallory finds it.

16 SOURCESView more in app

security online infoNews

Jun 10, 2026

Microsoft Patch Tuesday Fixes for Zero Day Vulnerabilities

A link-following privilege escalation vulnerability in the Windows Collaborative Translation Framework that can allow local authenticated attackers to gain SYSTEM privileges.

security affairsNews

Jun 9, 2026

Microsoft Releases Record-Breaking Patch Tuesday With 208 CVEs

A privilege escalation vulnerability in the Windows Collaborative Translation Framework that can allow escalation to SYSTEM.

malware newsNews

Jun 9, 2026

Microsoft Patch Tuesday for June 2026 - Snort rules and prominent vulnerabilities - Malware News - Malware Analysis, News and Indicators

An elevation of privilege vulnerability in Windows Collaborative Translation Framework (CTFMON).

arstechnica securityNews

Jun 9, 2026

Locked in heated rivalry with researcher, Microsoft fixes 0-day they disclosed - Ars Technica

A high-severity Windows local privilege escalation vulnerability in the Windows Collaborative Translation Framework caused by improper link resolution before file access ('link following'). It could be chained with another flaw to gain SYSTEM privileges.

+6 more in the timeline

What this page doesn’t show

The version that knows your environment.

This page is what’s public. Mallory adds the parts that aren’t: which of your assets are affected, which adversaries are exploiting it right now, which detections to deploy, and what to do tonight.

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Exposure mapping

Query your assets running an affected version, and investigate the blast radius.

Threat actor evidence

Every observed campaign linking this CVE to a named adversary.

Associated malware

Malware families riding this exploit, with evidence and IOCs.

Detection signatures

YARA, Sigma, Snort, and vendor rules, auto-deployed to your SIEM.

Vendor-by-vendor mapping

Cross-references every affected SKU, including bundled OEM variants.

Social activity6

Community discussion across Reddit, Mastodon, and other social sources.

EXTERNAL REFERENCES

MITRE CVE

cve.org · CVE-2026-45586

NVD

nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-45586

MITRE CWE · CWE-59

Improper Link Resolution Before File Access…

msrc.microsoft.com

msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-45586